Amusement and exercising device



April 30, B BU I AMUSEMENT AND EXERGISING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 19 57 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Laurence zyfiz'gzz' ATT NEY

April 30, 1940. v LHBBUS 2,198,987

AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE 30, L BIBUS AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Nov. 1, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR LQUFGR09E5CZ1TZES N BY my? Cir Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES 1 arerrr OFFICE 2,198,987 AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE Laurence H. Bibus, Philadelphia, Pa. Application November 1, 1937, Serial No. 172,079

11 Claims. (01. ere-#1023) I "The present invention relates to an amusement device, and 'it' relates more particularly to a prize-projecting amusement device operable in response to a thrown projectile. r

" An'object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device which will hurl a prize to'a player when the latter has succeeded in strikinga target with a projectile.

Another object of the'present invention is to provide aprojectile-responsive prize-projecting device which not'onl'y'taxesa players skillin throwing the projectile towards the target, but also taxes the players skill in catching the resultant projected prize.

Anothenobject of the present invention is to provide a comical target-bearing mechanized figure whose limbs will be set in motion to operate an independent prize-projecting device when 'said'target has been struck. I

"With "the above and 'other objects in view, which'will "appear more fully from the following detailed'description and accompanying drawings, the present invention consists of a mechanized figure including a pivoted spring-tensioned limb, a means for cocking said limb, a detent for holding saidlimb in a cooked position, and a detentrelease controlled by atarget, whereby a projectile striking said target will release the detent and thus permit the "pivoted spring-tensioned limb to forcibly swing through space, and a separate prize-projecting device removed from" said mechanized figure and including a prize-bearing spring-board positioned inproximity to the path bfsaiidpivotad limb, adetent for holding said a spring-board in a flexed condition, and a detentreleas'eor trip-arm means operable generally simultaneously with said limb detent-release,

whereby a prize-will be forcibly projected by said spring-board when the target has been struck byaa" projectile, creating the illusion that the swinging limb has encountered and projected the pnzey For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings formsi'thereof which are at present preferred, since the-same have been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it isto be understoodthat the various instrumentalities' of whichthe invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described. In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of one "embodiment of the present invention illustrating a mechanized figure operatively disposed. relative to a separate prize-projecting device, with parts of said figure broken away to expose to View the interior thereof.

Figure 2 represents an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary sectional view t aken'on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 represents an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the limb-cocking, limb-detent, and detent-release mechanism disposed within the figure illustratedin Figure l. v

Figure 5 represents a frontelevational view of the prize-projecting device illustrated in Figurel.

Figure 6' representsa plan view of the prizepro'jecting device'illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 7. represents an enlarged fragmentary rear perspective "view of the prize-projecting device illustrated in Figures 1, 5 and '6.

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary r'ear per-' spective view of a modified form of prize-project ing device adapted to successively project a series of individual prizes without interruption.

In the particular embodiment of the present invention herein shown for the purpose of illustration' or exemplification, amechanized hollow figure'of a jackass Bis stationarily supported relative to the ground in any suitable manner," as for instance,,by means of the rigid figure supporting shaft 10 housed within a foreleg H and having its lower shaft extremity firmly secured to'a base l2 by being welded or bolted thereto. An-ev'en firmer support may' be obtainedby' providing aipair of figure-supporting shafts 10, I0 each-respectively disposed within the two spaced figure foreleg's I I, ll. The hind legs [3, l3 of the jackass are preferably pivotally-relat'ed to the hindmost portion of the bodyby' means of the pivot shaft l4, and the hooves 15, I5 'of' these hind legs are thus constrained to describe-the arc I6 through space when the hind legsare being cocked'and also when these hind legs are subsequently released to simulate akicking action under the contracting influence. of a tensioned helical spring; 1

-The pivot shaftrM may be journalled'within suitable 'aperturesl'l; ll in the hindmost body portion, and the twoshaft extremities I8, i8, preferably project through these apertures H, H and into the top hollow part of thehind legs i3, .13. These. hind legs may. be. keyed to the pivot shaft extremities I8, I8 by any suitable means, such as by mating polygonal apertures l9, I9, disposed in the inner walls of these hind legs, with the shaft extremities I8, I8 of similar polygonal cross-section. These hind legs I3, I3 may be permanently secured to the shaft extremities by any suitable means, such as the lock nut and washer assemblies 20, 20 or the like.

A yoke 2| is preferably formed integrally with said pivot shaft 14, and is adapted, together with said shaft, to rotate to a limited degree within the hindmost portion of the body 9.

The hind legs I3, I3 may be forcibly swung through space in realistic simulation of a kicking action, under the contracting influence of a pair of tensioned helical springs 22, 22 disposed within the body 9. These springs may be anchored to the stationary body cross-bar 23 at their front ends, and to the movable yoke crossarm 24 at their opposite rear ends, by means of the spaced anchoring-collars 25, 25 or the like. The yoke cross-arm 24 may be notched at its midpoint 26to receive a spring-pressed detent 21 which engages said notch when the, hind legs have been cocked or raised to their initial kicking position. This detent 21 is preferably pivotally related to a detent housing 28 mounted within the hindrnost portion of the body 9, at the fulcrum point 29, and the detent 21 is normally urged into the cross-arm notch 26 under the influence of a small helical compressions spring 30 stationarily related to the body 9 through said detent housing 28.

A target bell or gong 3I is preferably mounted on the rear of the jackass body 3, and may be fixedly secured thereto by a hollow sleeve 32 imbedded within the hindmost portion of the body 9. A detent release mechanism maybe operatively mounted within said sleeve 32 and may consist of the plunger 33 slidably mounted within said bell supporting sleeve 32 and having a target-forming head 34 projecting exteriorly and rearwardly of said bell 3i, and having its opposite end 35 in close proximity to, and operatively aligned with, the downwardly depending detentarm 36.

A downwardly extending cocking arm 3! is preferably centrally'secured to the pivot shaft I4, and the lower extremity of this cocking arm may be straddled in unhindered relation by a cocking-yoke 38 supported at its free end by a leaf spring 39 mounted on the detent housing 28, and supported at its other end by thecable 40. This cable 40 may be operatively extended to a foot-operated cocking-treadle 42, which is preferably disposed at some remote point, by means of suitable sheaves or pulleys 4I, 4| or the like.

In operation, a player stationed at some distance away from the hereinabove described mechanized figure (which we will assume has been cocked), attempts to strike the target head 34 with a projectile. If his aim is imperfect, he may succeed in merely striking the bell 3| which will then be sounded thereby. If his aim is good, the projectile, traveling in the direction of the arrow 43, will strike the target head 34 and slide the plunger 33 in the direction of said arrow 43, thus causing the inner plunger end 35 to contact and slightly pivot the detent. arm 36 about the fulcrum 29 against the action of the compression spring 30. The detent 21 will thus be tilted upwardly, and lifted out of the yoke-notch 26, whereupon the tensioned helical springs 22, 22 will rapidly contract and cause the yoke 2I toethcr with its associated pivot shaft I4 to partially rotate. The extent of this rotation may be limited by the cocking arm 31 coming intocontact with the fixed end of the flat leaf spring 39, or it may be limited by separate stop means. This rotary movement of the pivot shaft I4 is transmitted to the hind legs I3, I3 which then simulate the kicking action hereinabove referred to, and the hind leg hooves I5, I5 describe an arc I6 through space.

The operator of this amusement device may then recock the hind legs I3, I3, that is, he may raise-these hind legs to the elevated or kick-starting position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, by depressing foot pedal 42. This serves to draw the yoke end of the cable 4!) forward in the direction of the arrow 44 and the resulting forward movement of the cocking-yoke 38 carries forward with it the cooking arm 31; the contracted helical springs 22, 22 being extended and tensioned simultaneously therewith. When the detent 21 enters the notch 26 centrally provided in the yoke arm 24, the hind legs, I3, I3 are fully cooked, and the foot treadle 42 may then be released. The flat leaf spring 38, which had been flexed during this cocking operation is then permitted. toresume its normal position illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and inso doing, positions bothv itself and its associated yoke 38 in non-obstructing relation relative to the cooking arm 31. I i

If desired, auxiliary figure movements and sound effects may accompany the hereinabove described kicking operation. Thus, the head and neck portions 45 of the jackass may be caused to oscillate to and fro when the target has been struck, by pivotally securing this portion 45 to the body 9 at the pivot point 46, and then imparting an oscillatory movement to the neckthrough the rotating crank arm 41 and connecting rod 48. movement from any suitable electric motor 49 through a chain-driven reduction gear unit 50. If desired, the electric motor49 may be operated only when the target head 34 has been struck by a projectile and the hind legs I3, I3.are being swung through space, or the motor 49 may be operated whenever these legs are in the uncocked position, but in either case the motor operation The crank arm 4! may derive its rotary is preferably controlled by electricalcontacts whose juxtaposition is determined by the physical position of the figure legs.

Thus also, a vacuum horn 5I may-be operated by an air-pump 52 connected to a leg 5301' the yoke 2! by the connecting rod '54 and the end link 55. The noise emitted by the horn which will accompany each kick effected by the hereinabove described mechanized figure, may resemble the braying of a jackass.

According to the present invention, a separate prize projecting device 56, one form of which is indicated generally in Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7 and which is shown in modified form in Figure 8, may be operatively positioned relative to the hereinabove described mechanized figure, and may be so controlled by, or timed relative to, the legs thereof (the hind legs I3, I3 of the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings), as to hurl the prize to the player whenever the limbs have been set in motion due to the target having been hit. Thus, the present invention not only provides means for testing a players skill in aiming a projectile at a target and for indicating and rewarding him for his success in so doing, but the present invention may also test the players skill in catching the projected prize hurled to him.

The prize-projecting device 56 may include a compression spring or a spring-board 51 formed from a steel leaf spring or the like, having a compartment 58 attached thereto within which a prize may be placed and temporarily retained until forcibly thrown out into space in the-direction of arrow 10 by the unflexing of the compression spring, or of the spring board 51. This spring board may be suitably secured at its fixed end to an anchor-block 59 mounted on the inclined base board 60, and may be provided with the seriesof horizontal prize-bearing shelves 62, BZindicated in'Figures 1, 5 and 6.

A detent-receiving aperture 63 is preferably disposed'in the free end of the spring-board 51 and is adapted to meet and receive the detent 64 when said spring-board 51 has been flexed backwardly. The detent 64' is preferably rigidly mounted on a rotatable detent-bearing bar 65 having its rounded ends journalled between the bearing blocks 66,- 66 mounted on the upright frame members 6|, 6|. The detent 64 may be provided with an overhanging lip'6'l which slides over and contacts that portion of 'the springboard surface immediately adjacent the aperture 63 in response to the forces exerted by a pair of flat leaf springs 68, 68 on the detent 64, through the detent-bearing bar 65. The pivoted detentbearing bar 65 is preferably provided'with projections 69, 69 disposed somewhere within the path of the are 16 described by the hoof-extremities l5, IS on the swinging hind legs I3, I3 of the mechanized jackass.

In operation these swinging hooves l5, l5 encounter the underside of the projections 69, 69 and cause the detent-bearing bar 65to rotate slightly in opposition to the forces exerted by the leaf spring 68 68, thusftilting the detent-lip 61 into an inoperative position. The springboard 51 is released thereby and immediately unflexes, hurling out into space in the direction of the arrow 16, the prize which had been placed within the springboard compartment 58. Due to the rapidity of the action, and the instantaneous proximity of the hooves and the prize, an impression is created that the jackass itself directly kicks the prize to the player,

A modified embodiment of this prize-projecting device and one which is adaptedto hurl a series of individual prizes in operative succession without interruption for reloading eachtime a prize has been projected, has been illustrated in Figure 8. v

In this modified embodiment, a multiplicity of spring-boards 5T, S'I-may be provided and each of these spring-boards may have associated therewith an individual detent H. These detents are preferably individuallypivotally mounted between the detent-confining blocks '12, 12 by means of the detent pivot shafts 13, 13.] These detents may each be urged into the spring-board locking position by a helical tension coil- Ila. A rotatable, shaft 75. may be journalled' between the bearing blocks 66, 66 mounted on the upright frame members 6|, 6| and this shaft 15 may be provided with a series of detent-releases each comprising a collar -l6 rigidly secured to the shaft 15, and a detent-release H projecting radially therefrom. These detent releases TI, 11 are radially staggered relative to each other and are each adapted to successively enter betweentheir respective juxtaposed detent-confining blocks l2, l2 and rotate the enclosed pivoted detent 1| against the action of the helical tension spring 13 by an amount suflicient to release the free end ofthespring-boardS'I. Thus, the shaft 15 may be 'rotated in stages. 'The number of these stages required to rotate this bar'one complete revolution 'is' dependent upon the :number vof prizes which maybe projected by the device without requiring reloading any of the springboards, or mother words, upon the number of spring boards. The bar 15 may be rotated'by means of the pair of ratchet wheels 18, I8 mounted on either end of said bar, and the operatively juxtaposed pawls i9, 19. The ratchet wheels 18, .18 are peripherally divided into a series of stages, the number of stages being equal to the number of spring-boards. The pawls 19, 19 are each mounted upon hoof-intercepting blocks .80, pivotally related to the framework 6| of the prize projecting device at the pivot points 8|,8l. The upward movement of the free ends of these pivoted blocks 80, 80Imay be limited by-the U shaped stops 82, 82 fixedly secured to the framework.

In operation the swinging hooves l5, l5simultaneously contact ofqthe blocks 18, 18 and elevate the free'e'nds thereof by an amount limited by the height of the U shaped stops 82, 82. The flexible pawls 19, 19 are raised thereby, partially rotating the ratchet wheels 18, 18 and the associated bar 15. This rotary movement is transmitted through the collars 16, 16 to the project- ,ing detent-releases TI, T1, the extremities of which are adapted to enter between the detent confining blocks :12, I2 and singly pivotally rotate the detents Tl H by the slight amount necessary to release the spring boards 51,51.

As may be readily seen, these spring boards need not be reloaded each time a prize has been projected, but on the contrary a plurality of prizes, the number of which is dependent upon the number of spring boards-provided, may be successively projected without interrupting the operation of the prize projecting device.

While the prize projecting devices illustrated in Figures 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive have been illustrated and described'in operative juxtaposition to the hereinabove described mechanized figure, it is to be understood that the target 34 need not be mounted upon a separate figure but instead this target maybe mounted either directly on the prize projecting devices illustrated in the drawings, or elsewhere, and may directly control the spring board detent 64 or H. Thus, the

' a prize at the hooves nearest approach'thereto.

The illusion that the jackass itself kicks the prize out may thus be'effected. v

It is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular figure illustrated and described, but on the contrary any figure (human, animal'or comic strip) may be readily substituted therefor, and either arms or legs, or both, may be swung to set into 1 operation the prize-projecting device.

Moreover, the mechanized figureand prize projecting device both may be air-motivated and, if

desired, the targetmay electrically control the movements of these devices instead of mechanicallycontrolling their operation. v The present invention maybe embodiedin projecting blocks 69 or 80 need not be operated other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

' l. A skill-rewarding amusement device for testing a players throwing and catching skill, including a target-controlled figure having a movable limb movable in a direction towards the player, means responsive to the impact of a play er-directed object on said target for rapidly moving said limb in said direction, and movable catapult means separate from said limb arranged temporarily to hold a prize at rest in spaced relation from said limb and near the path of movement thereof, said catapult means being further arranged to catapult said prize towards the player when said target has been struck, whereby said prize will appear to have been projected directly by said limb.

' 2; A skill-rewarding amusement device for testing 'a players throwing and catching skill, including a figure having at least one cockable pivoted sprin'g-tensioned limb movable, when released, in a direction towards the player,

limb-cocking means operable at a point removed from said figure,'a limb-'detent for releasably securing said spring-tensioned limb in a cooked position, projectile-responsive means for releasing said limb-detent, and movable catapult means separate from said limb arranged temporarily to support a prize motionlessly in proximity to the path of movement of said limb, said catapult means being further arranged to catapult said prizetowards the player when said target has been struck, whereby a well-aimed projectile encountering said target will cause said limb to swing through space rand apparently directl project a prize towards the player. a

3. A skill-rewarding amusement device for testing a players throwing and catching skill, including a figure having at least one pivoted spring-tensioned limb movable in a direction towards the player, limb-cooking means, a limb detent for releasably securing said spring-tensioned limbin a cooked position, a projectile responsive limb-detent release, and movable catapult means separate from said limb arranged temporarily to support a prize motionlessly in proximity to the path of movement of said limb, said catapult means being further arranged to catapult said prize towards the player when said target has been struck, whereby a properly-directed projectile will operate said limb-detent release causing said pivoted limb to swing through space and apparently directly project a prize to wards the player.

4. A skill-rewarding amusement device ineluding a mechanized animal figure having a relatively stationary body, a rear leg pivotally secured to said body and arranged to be swung outwardly and rearwardly in simulation of a kick, an external target mounted at the rear end of said body,'a projectile-responsive plunger centrally disposed on said target and arranged, when struck, to 'setinto motion said rear leg, and prizeprojecting means disposed near the path of movement of said rear leg and arranged to catapult a prize towards theplayer when saidtarget has been struck, whereby'said prize will appear to have been projected by said rear leg.

5. A skill-rewarding amusement device includingia target-bearing figure having a movable limb movable in a direction towards the player, means responsive to the impact of a projectile on said target for rapidly moving said limb in said direction, and spring-actuated means controlled by said movable limb for catapulting a prize towards the player, said means including a prize-supporting member for fixedly holding said prize near the path of movement of said limb, a detent for releasably securing said'prize-supporting member against the action of said actuating spring, and detent-release means for rendering said detent inoperative, said latter means being at least partly disposed Within the path of movement of said limb, whereby the supported prize will seemingly be catapulted to the player by said limb when said target has been struck.

6. A. skill-rewarding amusement device includ-; ing a target-controlled figure having a movable limb movable in a direction towards the player, means responsive to the impact of a playerdirected object on :said target for rapidly moving said limb in said direction, and prize-projecting means adapted fixedlyto support a prize near the path of movement of the extremity of said limb, said prize-projecting means being arranged to catapult said prize towards the player when said target has been struck and said limb set into motion, whereby said prize will appear to have been projected by the rapidly moving extremity of said limb.

'7. A target-controlled figure having a cockable limb, arranged, when cocked, to be set into motion by the striking of said target, said limb having a portion fixedly related thereto adapted to receive the thrust oflimb-cocking means, remotely operable limb-cocking means. movable from an inoperative position out of contact with-said portion into driving engagement therewith, to cook said limb, and means urging said limb-cocking means out of drivingengagement with said portion, and clear of the path described by said portion, when said limb has been cocked.

8. An amusement apparatus comprising a mechanized animal figurejinoluding a stationary foreleg and body, said figure being supported through said foreleg, a spring-tensioned rear leg pivotally mounted on said body and adapted to be swung outwardly through space under the in-- pivotally mounted on said body and adapted to be swung outwardly through space under the infiuence of said spring in simulation of a kick, a detent mounted within said body for releasably securing said rear leg in a cocked position, an external target mounted on the rear of said body, said target being provided with a centrally disposed projectile-responsive plunger adapted, When struck by a projectile, to render said rear leg detent inoperative, and cocking-means, operable at a point remote from said mechanized figure,

tive, and common means interposed between said for returning said rear leg to a cocked position, said cocking-means being provided with automatic means for returning the same to its original position prior to subsequent movement of said rear leg.

10. A target-controlledprize-projecting device for forcibly projecting a separate prize each time the target has been struck by a projectile, said device being adapted, after a single loading operation, to uninterruptedly project a predeter mined number of separate prizes, comprisinga V plurality of spring-actuated prize-supporting members each'adapted to temporarily support a separate prize, an individual detent operatively' associated with each of said prize-supporting members for releasably "securing each of said prize-supporting members against the action of their respective actuating springs, an individual projectile-responsive detent release operatively associated with each of said individual detents, said detent releases each being adapted to successively render their respective detents inoperatarget and each of said detent releases adapted to operate the latter each timesaid target has been struck, thereby permitting each of said actuating springs to successively unfiex and forcibly project a prize from their respective associated prize-supporting members.

11. A skill-rewarding amusement device inoluding an animal figure having a generally stationary body, a limb pivotally secured to said body and'arranged to be swung outwardly, a target on said body arranged when struck suddenly to set saidlimb into motion, and prize-projecting same as that which the prize would have described had it been struck directly by the end of said moving limb, said prize-projectingmeans being operatively synchronized with said target, whereby said prize will appear to have been projected by said limb.

LAURENCE H. BIBUS.

- means arranged to catapult a prize through space towards the player along a path generally the 15 

